William Henry Traber (Billy)...single...graduated from El Segundo (CA) High in 1997...attended nearby Loyola
Marymount College...went 10-4 with a 3.13 ERA in 18 games (17 starts), four complete games, as a junior at LMU in
2000...in 123.2 innings, fanned a LMU school-record 156...selected a first team All-America by *Collegiate Baseball* and second-team Louisville Slugger All-American...also named the West Coast Conference Pitcher-of-the-Year.
2007
For 2nd straight season, split campaign between Washington and the Nationals' Triple-A affiliate...had contract
selected on May 16 and spent nearly 3 months with the Nationals before being optioned to Columbus, August
12...served the Nationals as a left-handed specialist and long reliever...held opposing left-handed hitters to a .176
average (9-for-51) in 28 big league appearances...upon joining the Nationals in May, allowed just one run in his first 11.1
innings or 9 games...went 2-0 with 2 holds and a 1.59 ERA (3 ER/17.0 IP) in his first 16 appearances...when working
1.0 or less inning, notched a 2.13 ERA in 17 appearances...posted a 2.05 ERA (5 ER/222.0 IP) in 15 games at RFK.
Game-By-Game Highlights: Recalled on May 16 and pitched that night against ATL, allowed one hit during a
scoreless 5th, and was rewarded with a win...earned holds May 17 vs. ATL and May 24 at CIN.
In minor leagues: Went 2-3 with a 2.90 ERA in 14 games (4 starts) with Columbus of the Triple-A International
League...went 2-1 with a 1.23 ERA (3 ER/22.0 IP) in 10 relief appearances...limited opposing IL left-handed hitters to
a .167 (8-for-48) mark...walked only 7 batters in 40.1 innings, an average of 1.6 walks per 9 innings, during 2 IL stints.
2006
Enjoyed a pair of stints with the Nationals, making 2 starts April 20-26 and appearing in 13 games (6 starts) from
August 6 to the end of the year...went 4-3 with a 6.44 ERA in 15 games overall...won his first start April 20 at PHI (3
earned runs in 5.2 innings) and took the loss April 25 vs. CIN (4 earned runs in 1.1 innings) before being optioned
back to New Orleans April 26...tossed 7.0 innings of one-run ball August 11 vs. NYM to earn the win in his first start
back with Washington...made 5 more starts before pitching out of the bullpen for the rest of the year...went 3-3 with a
7.75 ERA (31 ER/36.0 IP) in his 8 starts...posted a pair of holds and did not allow a run in 7 relief appearances (7.1 innings), retiring 6 of the 7 first batters he faced.
Game-By-Game Highlights: Earned the win April 20 at PHI in his first big league appearance since September 16,
2003 with CLE...surrendered 4 runs (3 earned) on 2 hits and 4 walks in 5.2 innings in the 10-4 triumph...allowed only
a Paul Lo Duca first-inning solo home run, and 4 hits in all, in his August 11 start vs. NYM...left with a 2-1 lead, which
proved to be the final score as he outdueled Tom Glavine...retired 13 of the next 14 batters he faced after the homer...only one other runner reached second base in his 7.0 innings (a Jose Reyes 3rd-inning double).
In minor leagues: Went 7-7 with a 4.05 ERA in 21 starts with New Orleans...struck out a season-high 9 batters in 6.0
shutout innings April 9 vs. Round Rock, his first start of the year...won 3 straight starts May 8-19, allowing just 2 earned
runs in 19.0 innings (0.95 ERA)...in a 9-start span June 13-July 25, notched a 2.88 ERA (18 ER/56.1 IP), allowing 3
runs or less in 7 of the starts and 4 in both of the other 2...in his next - and final - start with New Orleans on July 30 at
Portland, yielded 7 runs in 6.0 innings...was then recalled to Washington August 6...walked 26 batters in 124.1 Pacific
Coast League innings, an average of just 1.9 per 9 innings.
2005
Went combined 8-11 with a 4.83 ERA in 28 games (21 starts) at 3 levels in CLE's system...tossed 132.1 innings after missing the entire '04 campaign due to shoulder surgery...averaged 6.5 K's per 9.0 innings.
In minor leagues: Began season with Kinston of the Single-A Carolina League...made first post-surgery start on April
10 vs. Winston Salem...earned the win...graduated to the Double-A Eastern League in May...recorded quality starts in
4 of 5 EL starting assignments...allowed only one run on 5 hits and a walk in 7.2 innings during 2005 Triple-A debut,
May 31 vs. Toledo...shifted to 'pen for much of season's final month and posted a 1.89 ERA.
2004
Had some impressive stretches during his rookie campaign in the major leagues...His first season in the majors came to a halt in the September due to a torn ligament in his left throwing elbow that required surgery and put his 2004 season in peril... Billy finished T4th among American League rookie pitchers in strikeouts (88), T8th in wins (6), 6th in innings (111.2), 5th in ERA (5.24) and was one of four AL rookies w/a shutout in 2003...Made the club after an impressive spring, going 1-0 w/a 1.59 ERA in 7 games (2GS, 17.0IP, 14H, 6R/3ER, 6BB, 15K)...Was converted to relief midway thru camp after spending the first two years of his professional career in a starting role...Made his major league debut on April 4 in Kansas City, going 3.0 shutout innings while yielding just 1 hit in relief of Jason Davis in the 5-1 KC win...Made his second outing on April 11 (2.1IP, 0H, 0R) as he did not allow a run over any of his first 2 outings (5.1IP)...Was tagged with the loss in Chicago-AL on April 18 (0.1IP, 0H, 0R, 2BB), the first decision of his career...Made a spot start in place of the injured Brian Anderson, the first of his major league career, on April 24 in Seattle (4.1IP, 3H, 3R/ER), falling to 0-2 in a tough-luck 4-2 loss...Walked a season-high 4 in the outing...Picked up his first major league win on May 16 in relief vs. Oakland (1.0IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K), a 3-2 last-at bat win over Mark Mulder...Won his second decision in a row on May 19 vs. Detroit after allowing a HR to Carlos Pena, the first HR he allowed after 22.0IP to start season... Over his last 3 outings prior to entering the rotation from May 21-27 he was 0-0 w/a 2.25 ERA (4.0IP, 5H, 1R/ER, 2BB, 4K) and was appointed to the starting rotation upon Jason Bere's placement on DL on May 28...Spent the remainder of his season in the starting rotation...Made his 2nd start of the season on June 4 in Colorado, falling to 2-3 on the year in the 2-1 Colorado win (4.0IP, 5H, 2R/ER, 2BB, 5K)... Fell to 0-3 as a starter vs. LA on June 15 (5.1IP, 4H, 2R/ER)...Did not get a decision in his 5th start at Pittsburgh on June 21, a 7-6, 15.0 inning loss as he tallied then season-high totals in innings (6.0) and strikeouts (6)...He recorded his first win as a starter on June 27 vs. Cincinnati as he tossed seven shutout innings (7.0IP, 5H, 0R, BB, 5SO)...Allowed a career-high 11 hits and 7 runs/7ER in then shortest start of his season/career at KC on July 2 (2.2IP, 11H, 7R/ER)...GEM - Followed that outing up with a complete game, 1-hit shutout of the New York Yankees on July 8 in Jacobs Field (9.0IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 5K), the first 1-hitter by an Indian since Bartolo Colon on 9/18/00 at NYY and the first by an Indians rookie since Tom Kramer on 5/24/93...Became the first Indians rookie pitcher to throw a complete game, 1-hit shutout since LHP Herb Score on 7/30/55 at Baltimore...In addition to being the first 1-hit CG, SHO by an Indian in Jacobs Field, it was the first 1-hit, CG, SHO by a Cleveland pitcher in Cleveland since Tom Candiotti on 8/3/87 vs. NYY...The last ML rookie pitcher to toss a 1-hit, 0 walk, CG SHO was Kerry Wood (5/6/98 vs. HOU)...2nd HALF STRUGGLES b Recorded an ERA of 6.81 in 9 second half starts (39.2IP, 57H, 30ER, .331 avg against)... Was skipped a start to begin 2nd half in order to "refresh" his arm...Did not start from July 14-25 and earned his 5th win of the year in start of July 26 vs. Minnesota, equaling his season/career-high w/6K (6.1IP, 1ER)...Allowed a career-high 3 HR in start at Texas on August 1, the shortest start of the season at the time (2.0IP, 6R)... Improved to 6-6 on the year as he tossed 7.0 shutout innings (5 H, 2 BB, 5 SO) in a 3-0 win over Seattle on August 7 in Jacobs Field...He went 1-2 in August w/a 6.00 ERA in 6 starts (27.1IP, 35H, 18ER)...Was limited to just 2 starts in September due to elbow soreness and was limited to his shortest career/season start in final outing vs. Kansas City on Sept 16 (1.2IP, 7H, 6R/ER)...Over his last 8 starts form August 1st on he was 1-4 w/a 7.83 ERA (33.1IP, 51H, 29ER)...He went 4-8 as a starter with a 5.68 ERA (88.2IP, 111H, 56ER) in 18 starts...Indians were 9-6 when he appears in relief as he has stranded the 5 runners he inherited... In relief his ERA was 3.52 (23.0IP, 21H, 9ER)...Has retired 9 of the 15 first batters he has faced...Lefties hit just .219 (25-114) with 1 HR allowed, the 18th lowest mark in the league against LH batters ...Batters hit .299 (35-117) off him with RISP, .267 (12-45) with RISP and 2 outs and .323 (64-198) with men on base...Allowed 11 steals (2CS) during his tenure on the mound...Had reconstructive surgery on his left elbow on Sept. 29...Los Angeles, CA by Lewis Yocum.
2003
Spent most of his first season in the Indians organization at AA Akron, where he went 13-2 with a 2.76 ERA in
18 games/17 starts (107.2IP, 99H, 33ER, 20BB, 82SO)...Despite not pitching in Akron over the last 7 weeks of
the season we was named runner-up Pitcher of the Year in the Eastern League and was awarded a spot on the
EL Post-Season All Star Team...He led the Eastern League w/2 shutouts and his 13 wins finished tied for 3rd in the EL (was leading league in wins at time of promotion on July 9).
Was named to the Double AA All-Star team at mid-season and pitched for the United States squad in the Future's Game on July 7 in Milwaukee (0.2IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 1SO)...Went at least 5.0 innings in 17 of his 18 Akron outings (6.0 or more in 12G) and allowed 2 runs or less in 13 of the 18 games...Tossed a pair of 7.0-inning, complete game, 1-hit shutouts on May 21 at Portland (2BB, season-high 10SO) and June 6 vs. Binghamton (1BB, 6SO)...Won his last 8 decisions at Akron from May 15 to July 2 and over his last 13 Akron games (12GS) he was 9-1 w/a 2.09 ERA (81.2IP, 73H, 19ER)...Was promoted to AAA Buffalo on July 11 and spent the remainder of the season with the Bisons.
Went 8.0 shutout innings in his Buffalo debut on July 13 vs. Syracuse (7H, 0R, 1BB, 4K) and worked at least 5.0 innings in all 9 of his Buffalo starts...Won his last 3 decisions for the Bisons, going 3-0 w/a 2.73 ERA over his last 5 starts from August 1 thru the end of the season (29.2IP, 28H, 9ER)...Did not get a decision in his lone International League start (6.0IP, 6H, 3ER, 3BB, 6K).
.Combined on the year he went 17-5 w/a 2.94 ERA in 27 games (26GS, 162.1IP, 157H, 53ER) at Akron and
Buffalo...The 17 wins and 162.1IP led all Indians minor league pitchers while his 2.94 ERA was the 4th lowest mark in the farm system...Limited hitters to a .254 (157-617) average against w/11HR allowed as lefties hit just .221 (29-131, 0HR)... Batters hit a combined .237 (32-135) w/RISP and .212 (14-66) w/RISP and 2 outs...After the season he was voted as having the best control and curveball in the Eastern League by Baseball America.
